Winston, who was considered a frontrunner by many college analysts, led the top-ranked Seminoles to an undefeated regular season and a chance to play for a national championship in January. "It's a blessing. I don't even know what's going on right now, honestly. I'm just so happy. I'm overwhelmed," Winston told an audience during the presentation in New York.

But even as Winston became only the second redshirt freshman to win the Heisman, questions swirled about a rape allegation made against him more than a year ago but made public only last month.